1. LSU (8-2, 4-2)

LSU has zero chance of playing in the SEC Championship Game—Auburn has to beat Alabama, and LSU wins three-way tie with Alabama and Texas A&M—but is playing better than any team in the league right now. The problem: The emergence of QB Zach Mettenberger is two months too late.

2. Alabama (9-1, 6-1)

So now the Tide need help to defend their national championship. Well, it could be more than that. Because maybe, after back-to-back weeks where they were outplayed, Alabama isn’t the complete team we think it is.

3. Georgia (9-1, 7-1)

Despite the grumbling (again) about coach Mark Richt’s ability to lead the Dawgs to greatness, Georgia needs the same help Alabama needs—then needs to beat the Tide in the SEC Championship Game to play for it all.

7. Vanderbilt (6-4, 4-3)

8. Mississippi State (7-3, 3-3)

The Bulldogs better stop the three-game losing streak here, or 2011 will begin with seven wins—and end with five straight losses.

9. Ole Miss (5-5, 2-4)

Heartbreaking loss to Vandy last week kept the Rebels from qualifying for a bowl game. Now they need an upset in the next two games—at LSU, Mississippi State—to get there.

10. Missouri (5-5, 2-5)

The Tigers are about what we thought they’d be: a team that wins three league games and qualifies for a bowl game. Anything beyond that was gravy.

11. Tennessee (4-6, 0-6)

It’s almost over the Derek Dooley in Knoxville, but at what cost? The last three seasons have set back the program for years.

12. Arkansas (4-6, 2-4)

If the Hogs can win at Mississippi State and at home against LSU, they can qualify for a bowl game. A more realistic end to the season: lose both, hire a coach the following Monday after the last game.

13. Auburn (2-8, 0-7)

See the connection with the bottom four in the SEC? All four will be looking for a new coach. But who (other than Arkansas) takes a chance on Bobby Petrino?

14. Kentucky (1-9, 0-7)

The Wildcats get a breather this week with a game against FCS Samford. And if Tennessee fires Dooley before the end of the season, could give Joker Phillips a nice going away gift by beating a tanked Vols team next week.